Wrench.



F. ELLINGSON.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4. 1914.

1 1 22,885, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

UNITE @TATES A AENT FFTQE.

WRENCH.

Application filed March 4, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FANUEL ELLINesoN, a subject of the King of Norway, residing at Kensal, in the county of Stutsman, and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved wrench, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a wrench in which the two jaws are normally held in a closed position by means of a spring mounted in the handle of the wrench and connected with a chain of links which are connected with the major jaw of the wrench.

Another object of'the invention is to provide the handle of the wrench with means for positively engaging the auxiliary jaw so that when the handle is turned, the auxiliary jaw will be moved toward or away from the major jaw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which will be very simple in construction, but which will be very strong and durable and not liable to easily get out of order.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the wrench that when in use, the two jaws will be moved into tight engagement with an article placed between the aws.

J This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench with the jaws in the closed position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wrench; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the jaws in an open position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the major jaw of the wrench; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the auxiliary jaw of the wrench.

The handle 10 of this wrench is hollow, and is provided at its inner end portion with a solid shank 11 which has its end formed into a head 12 upon which there are formed teeth 13. The major jaw shown in perspective in Fig. 4 comprises the jaw proper 1 1 and the side plates or walls 15 and 16. The shank 11 of the handle 10 extends between the plates 15 and 16 and a pivot pin 17 which is carried by the plates passes through the head 12 so that the handle will be pivotally mounted between the plates 15 and 16.

The auxiliary jaw shown in perspective Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 191.4.

Serial No. 822,364.

in Fig. 5 comprises the jaw proper 18 and shank 19 which has its inner longitudinal edge provided with teeth 20 thus forming the shank 19 into a rack bar. The shank or rack bar 19 extends between the plates or walls 15 and 16 with its teeth 20 engaged by the teeth 13 and is provided with a longitudinally-extending groove 21 forming a track through which the rib 22 formed upon the plate 16 passes. From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be readily seen that by moving the handle 10, the auxiliary jaw may be slid longitudinally and thus moved toward or away from the major jaw 14.

It is desired to have the two jaws normally remain in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and therefore a spiral spring 23 has been placed in the handle 10 with one end secured to thepin 24: and its opposite end connected with the link chain 25 which has its outer end secured between the plates 15 and 16 upon the pin 26. This spring 23 will normally draw the pin 26 toward the pin 2 1 thereby locking the jaw upon the pivot pin 17 and causing the teeth 13 of the shank 11 to move the auxiliary jaw to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When this wrench is to be used, the major jaw is grasped with one hand and the handle with the other. The major jaw is then turned upon the pivot pin 17 to move the jaws to the open position shown in Fig. 3 and the wrench is then placed upon the nut or other article which it is desired to turn with the nut fitting between the aws l4 and 18. The major jaw is then released and the spring will move the jaws toward the closed position until the nut or pipe is tightly gripped between the jaws. These jaws 14 and 18 may be of a smooth-face type or may be provided with teeth after the manner of a pipe wrench. After the nut or pipe has been tightly gripped between the jaws l4 and 18, the handle 10 is gripped and the wrench moved to turn the nut or pipe in the proper direction. It is, of course, obvious that the wrench must be so placed upon the pipe that when turning the nut or pipe, the handle will be moved in a direction which would be downwardly in Fig. 2. The pressure upon the handle will therefore tend to bring the jaws more tightly into engagement with the nut or pipe, thus preventing any danger of the nut or pipe slipping between the jaws.

From an inspection of the drawings, it will be readily seen that this wrench will be very strong and notliable to easily break or get out of order since it comprises a very few number of parts which are very simple in construction and so put together that the various parts move very easily. It should also be noted that if desired, the pins 17, 24, and 26 may be removed so that if by any chance some portion of this wrench were broken due toexcessive strain, the wrench may be easily taken to pieces and a new portion substituted for that portion which has been broken.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising a major jaw, a

handle pivotally connected with said major jaw and provided with a longitudinally extending pocket, a spring mounted in said pocket, flexible means connecting said spring with said major jaw to yieldably hold said major jaw and handle in a normal position, an .i auxiliary jaw slidably mounted in said major jaw, said auxiliary jaw being provided with rack teeth and said handle being provided with teeth engaging the rack teeth of said auxiliary jaw to cause said auxiliary jaw to move when said handle is moved.

2. A wrench comprising a major jaw including side plates, a rib formed upon one of said side plates, an auxiliary jaw slidably mounted between the side plates of said major jaw and provided with a longitudinally extending groove in which said rib fits,

rack teeth formed upon said auxiliary jaw, i

qopiespi this patent inay ibe obtained i or jive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

I Washington, D. C." i 

